253 | Britain Wrestles with its Past

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We talk with the writer and political commentator Fintan O'Toole about how British politics can and should deal with its imperial past in the age of Brexit.  From battles over statues to fights over nationalism we explore whether history has become the new democratic divide.  Why does Churchill loom so large over our politics?  Can Labour reclaim the mantle of patriotism?  Will the Union survive the history wars?  Plus we ask whether there has been a generational shift in attitudes to race and identity.  With Helen Thompson.

242 | David Miliband on the Crisis

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We talk with David Miliband, head of the International Rescue Committee, about the impact of the pandemic on the world's poorest countries.  What happens in places where social distancing is not possible?  Plus we discuss the long-term implications of the crisis for the future global co-operation and global conflict.  Is this the moment for social democracy?  More details of the work of the IRC can be found here:  https://www.rescue-uk.org/

237 | British Politics: The Big Reset?

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We discuss whether British politics is about to undergo a fundamental shift.  Are we seeing a new role for the state?  Have the lines between the parties started to blur?  What will be the long-term consequences of the economic decisions taken in the last few weeks? Plus we explore whether the crisis points in the direction of more democracy, less democracy or a different kind of democracy.  With Helen Thompson and Tom McTague of the Atlantic.

235 | Can America Cope?

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David, Helen and Gary Gerstle discuss the impact of the pandemic on the fundamentals of American politics.  What have we discovered about the strengths and weaknesses of the federal system?  Are the states capable of learning from each other?  What part will the Supreme Court play?  And can the Democrats really persist with Biden?  Plus we ask who has the 'police power' and what it means to use it.

228 | Adam Tooze Part 2

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We catch up with Adam on the latest twists in the crisis: from the ECB's change of heart to new threats in emerging markets.  What is happening in Germany?  How vulnerable is the UK?  Can anything shake the hold of the almighty dollar?  Much more in the weeks to come.

227 | Adam Tooze on the Crisis

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We talk to Adam Tooze in New York about the possible impact of coronavirus on the global financial and political system.  How does this crisis compare to the financial crisis of 2008?  What are the implications for the future of the Eurozone?  And what have we learned already about the shift in power from the US to China?  Plus we talk to Helen Thompson in London about how it intersects with the oil price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia.  The first of a series of conversations about the biggest event of our times. Updated overnight